- Jan 3 Milton Cross, American radio announcer (Metropolitan Opera's Saturday Afternoon at the Opera, 1931-75), dies of a heart attack at 87
- Jan 3 René Thomas, Belgian jazz guitarist, dies of a heart attack at 47
- Jan 8 Richard Tucker [Reuben Ticker], American tenor (La Gioconda), dies at 61
- Jan 11 Max Lorenz [Sülzenfuss], German operatic heldentenor famous for Wagner roles, dies at 73
- Jan 16 Thor Johnson, American conductor (Cincinnati Symphony, 1947-58; Nashville Symphony, 1967-75), dies at 61
- Jan 20 Franz Andre, Belgian conductor, dies at 81
- Jan 21 Ernst Gernot Klussmann, German composer, dies at 73
- Jan 26 Lubov Orlova, Russian actress (Moscow Laughs; Man of Music; Tanya), dies at 74
- Jan 30 Boris Blacher, German composer (Purloined Letter), dies at 72
- Jan 31 Štefan Németh-Šamorínsky, Slovak organist, choirmaster, composer and pedagogue (Birch Trees), dies at 78
Country Singers
Jazz Musicians
Opera Singers
Pop Stars
Rappers
Rockers